Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
The Leomiti Family - How'd They Do That?
Recap By J. G. Bird
March 29, 2005
The Leomiti family is indeed one big, happy family. The Higgins kids may have different last names but as far as Loki and Phil Leomiti are concerned they are their kids. The shows producers make a point of commenting that the proudly Samoan Leomiti family took in 5 kids equally proud of their African-American heritage. The Leomiti's point out that any racial difference means nothing in raising kids. A great point; and one reason I made no mention of this interracial aspect.
We have a little peek into the near sunrise gathering of the production crew and the design team members. Constance having her makeup done, Ed pointing out the catering area, "where one can eat eggs and other items fried in oil," I think he says. Yesterday's show, I'm thinking, what's with the dog? Michael is carrying around a tan "rat dog," as I'd call it. However, there's no mention of why he's along for the ride. The bus gets spotted really quickly by neighbors, which puts a little hustle on surprising the family.
All the family members are using the full complement of microphones the production company brought along. See, I told you, there are some sound issues at the beginning of Day 1. Paul spends some time outside with the gathered crowd. He carries a boom microphone along to get a few neighbors' reactions. The pastor of the church which the Leomiti's and some of their neighbors attend also is shown "in the neighborhood." Then the local crowd gets to wave the family on to their vacation.
A large Jacaranda tree is cut down from the front yard to make room for demolition. Ed salvages some large trunk sections and branches and builds a 700 pound bench. (He made a similar design in his second EMHE episode - the Andersons). It is stained lovely amber brown and fits in nicely in new surrounding in the backyard. The home builders like to point out that the tree is a renewable resource, and a young California oak will be planted to replace the removed tree.
Dave Holt Senior Safety Manager for the Pardee Homes crew is introduced. He, and his "Safety Dogs" are shown checking the house is clear before demo, and making sure everyone (design team, especially) is wearing their hard hats. I understand from the Pardee Homes website that color-coded hard hats helps managers keep all the different crews organized on the site. The fact that rain makes this one horrendous week of building is barely touched upon; team members are much happier to show recycling efforts and individual room projects.
Ed snares an Auto body shop owner into trying something new - to get the glossy finish he wants on the frame and headboard of the bed for the martial arts room - he gets it done in their shop. He didn't know how to describe the finish he wanted, but he had a hunch that a shiny car finish approximated it. And that black enamel finish reflected like a mirror. Ed is clear in pointed out that all those samurai swords are safe and blunt. I dare not forget the ruff n' tumble silliness of Ed visiting a local karate dojo. One big "Hi-ya!" from a room full of karate amateurs sends Ed skittering up a padded support pole.
The Anime room, Connie loved doing for Charis, is helped along by a prior Makeover family member, Jerry Burns, little Ben Burns' dad. Besides the usual foray into Sears, Michael is at Cost Plus World Market stocking up on throw pillows and other accessories. Meanwhile, Paul raids the WNBA team, Sparks', Locker room - of course, this is Paul, he actually politely sneaks around. I did not note the detail in the WNBA room for Sina Leomiti before. This is going to sound strange, but a basketball backboard headboard is a pretty unique feature.
Ty realizes the Higgins children are still feeling a lot of pain over their parents' deaths, less than a year ago. Some things the family could not afford for their burials. So, Ty unveils a headstone for Charis Ann and Charles Higgins, Sr. on black marble that incorporates etched photographs of the parents. There's the sweep of emotions for the children over this, but ultimately, Loki says she sees healing.
The Leomiti family scorecard: Dad (Phil), Mom (Lokilani), Grandma (Seena), 21 year old (Jaboy Leomiti), 17 year old twins (Sina and Joshua Leomiti), 21 year old Charles Higgins, Jr., and his siblings, Michael, 19, Charis, 17, Joshua 16, and Jeremiah, 14.
This Pardee Home meets California's new standards for "Zero Energy Home." Governor Schwarzenegger is very interested in seeing this in action. Paul gives the "Governator" a tour through every room. Arnold seemed to like the texture of the map wallpaper in the travel room. I think the kids (and Paul) were really excited to have Arnold Schwarzenegger at the home. The Governor is also shown waiting inside with the design team at reveal-time.
The kitchen, we are told is twice the size of the kitchen they had before. It also has two refrigerators and two freezers. (Thank goodness this is the most energy-efficient home they've yet built!) One more surprise reveal is the counter area upstairs, where there is a laptop for each kid. Ty is proud of the mahogany furnishings and other design elements in his secret master bedroom suite, but this is probably the first time (they've shown) furniture still being moved in after the family is already inside touring!
We see a doubly big barbeque island off the winding "rainforest" path the design team carved out of the minimally remaining outdoor space. One more design touch with a message reflecting this blended family is the water feature - a wall that highlights two water jets arcing and joining together.
Ty closes by saying the seven days of rain was probably good for the design team to have gone through. Michael is shown for a brief moment working with Dallas Raines (KABC Los Angeles' weatherman, in one more remembrance of the February downpour they endured.
About J.G. Bird
I have a direct, clear writing style useful in business, but if you wonder what I'm really thinking about, I keep a portfolio of creative writing on Writing.com/authors/walkinbird. My day-to day work is at a great metropolitan newspaper, proofreading ordered advertisements. Keeping an experienced eye to consistency in design elements also makes me an obnoxious, if not valuable, web editor and fact-checker. Due to my straight-laced demeanor, I need the occasional infusion of Reality TV. The home design shows are my only true addiction. I can be contacted at: walkinbird@writing.com
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